September 7, 2024 Special Meeting of the Members

Greenfield Ranch, September 7, 2024

On Saturday, September 7, 2024 a Community Meeting was held at the Greenfield Ranch House starting at 9am with the purpose of presenting to the community a discussion regarding the possible role that Prescribed fire might play in long-term management of forests, oak woodlands, and grasslands on Greenfield Ranch. Presenting was one of Greenfield’s newest residents, Jason Courtis, who has extensive experience on the subject as well as experience working with local crews burning the landscape. Also making brief presentations were Linda Gray, who gave an update on the progress of the Greenfield Fuel Break project and also on the increasing fire danger of coyote brush on the Ranch, especially near the Orr Springs Gate and on Parcel 22. Paul Mueller described the possibility of forming of a new committee with a goal of helping the Ranch receive certification as a “Firewise” community.

Approximately 30 Greenfielders attended the 2-hour meeting with many questions as well as a genuine interest in how the idea of lighting fires under controlled conditions to reduce accumulated fuel load is the best, long-term management practice, as well as least expensive way, to both reduce fire danger and improve forest health on Greenfield Ranch. Using his prepared flip chart, Jason described how historically native tribes would burn the area every 5 – 10 years or so to reduce the threat of accumulated fuel load. Without that regular practice, over time the increasing fuel load on the forest floor eventually results in fires that burn much hotter and are far more destructive. Rather than fire being a healthy part of the natural forest cycle, fires have become a major, dangerous threat. Jason spoke of the extensive brush clearing projects currently underway on Greenfield as a result of the recent CalFire grant. While he described those efforts as positive and necessary he said that, without a continuous dedicated effort to remove the accumulated fuel load, fire would always remain a major threat to Greenfield. He explained that without getting down to the basic problem – too much fuel in our forest – we will always experience fire as a threat rather than as a natural part of the forest cycle.

Jason also described the natural growth cycle of forests on Greenfield. Over time firs will sprout within oak woodlands and out-compete native oak, madrone, and other hardwood species inhibiting their growth. Often the firs reach a point in their growth when the thin soil in many areas of Greenfield is insufficient to support them at which point they die, leaving dangerous exposed fuel load scattered through the oak woodlands. He also described how the overabundance of deer on the Ranch put madrone and oak saplings at severe risk.

Jason described the process of conducting prescribed fire burns. A plan is created, the area prepared,and work with a ‘Burn Boss’ to start the fire when the weather conditions are right, typically late Fall through early Spring. He said, when done correctly, it is extremely rare for those fires to get out of control. Jason described some of the crews he’s worked with and is available to help anyone who’s seriously interested in conducting a prescribed fire on their property.

Linda Gray explained how coyote brush, a California native plant and highly flammable shrub, has over the last decade begun encroaching into Greenfield grasslands and forest edges. The San Francisco Forest Alliance calls coyote brush one of the three most flammable plants in the California landscape.(https://sfforest.org/2019/01/05/native-plants-are-flammable-too/), and the Kensington Fire Protection District lists it as a 'Highly Flammable Shrub' (https://www.kensingtonfire.org/drought-tolerant-fire-resistant-and-highly-flammable-plants). Linda showed a series of aerial photos from two locations on the Ranch (just inside the main gate at Orr Springs Rd. and on Parcel 22 also close to Orr Springs Road) which depict how coyote brush has seriously encroached on areas of the Ranch from 2013 - 2023. Discussion followed re how to address this issue.

Paul Mueller gave a brief presentation on the potential benefits of Greenfield becoming nationally certified as a “Firewise Community” and introduced the fledgling committee working on the project to those assembled. He described how Greenfield may be eligible for support from MCFSC for new reflective road signs and many other benefits. He described this effort at helping Greenfield become Firewise as a natural extension of the effort at fire safety accomplished through the CalFire grant. Names and addresses of attendees were captured.

There were also some questions about historical fires on Greenfield Ranch. Linda shared a map and old newspaper articles from 1932 about previous fires.

Linda and Paul announced that they may be hosting meeting(s) in the future to describe progress of the CalFire grant and to let the community know what to expect as brush clearing work resumes this Fall.